PRESIDENT Barack Obama was under growing pressure last night to release “gruesome” photos of Osama Bin Laden’s body to silence conspiracy theorists who claim he is still alive.

But the Americans fear the pictures could be “inflammatory” across the Muslim world because the images are so grisly.

Bin Laden was killed with a precision shot just above the left eye, which removed part of his skull. He was shot a second time in the chest to make sure that he was dead.

Releasing the photos would be in questionable taste.

But yesterday the Afghan Taliban – who sheltered Bin Laden when they ran the country – disputed claims that he is dead.

They said Washington had not provided “acceptable evidence” that he had been killed.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement: “This news is only coming from one side, from Obama’s office, and America has not shown any evidence or proof to support this claim.

This news is only coming from one side, from Obama’s office, and America has not shown any evidence or proof to support this claim

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid

“Our sources close to Osama Bin Laden have not confirmed or denied the news. Until there is news from sources close to Osama Bin Laden it will be too early to provide any reaction.”

Within hours of the death being announced, fake photos were circulating on the internet.

White House spokesman Jay Carney confirmed the dilemma facing the President. He said the White House is still reviewing whether it will release the image, but the photograph is “gruesome”.

An alternative is to release video of Bin Laden’s burial at sea. But only photos showing him dead are likely to silence the doubters – reviving memories of the grim photos of Che Guevara after he was shot.

Earlier Mr Obama’s top counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan said: “We want to make sure that we’re able to do it in a thoughtful manner.

“We also want to anticipate what the reaction might be on the part of Al Qaeda or others to the release of certain information so that we can take the appropriate steps beforehand.”